Fearless granny recognised for bravery

Yes, she likes her cup of tea, her hour of telly and adores her grandchildren.

But without a trace of fear, the NSW north coast war widow intervened in a bashing attack on her neighbour and stopped the blows.

Six years ago, the then 81-year-old was settling in for a quiet night at the Legacy units block in Coffs Harbour where she had lived for 17 years.

Upon turning down the TV, she heard a scream and was instantly on her feet.

"They were shouting `Help, help!' I thought it might have been a poor lady who was being raped in the laneway, and I thought I'd go down and scare the person away, telling them that I'd called the police," she said.

She shuffled downstairs, barefoot and dressed only in her pyjamas, and headed to the source of the yelling.